SDG 8

In a capitalist world, many of the issues listed here can be solved through money. And for that you need to have a stable, growing economy and generate decent jobs, all of which increases standards of living and ties into goal 1. However, the progress on this goal has been heavily affected by the onset of the global pandemic. Some sources pointed to a stagnating economy for one in five countries in 2020, and that was well before the pandemic. 

There are ten targets:

• Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least seven percent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries
• Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour intensive sectors 
• Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
• Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead
• Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
• By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
• Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms
• Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women workers, and those in precarious employment
• Devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local cultures and products
• Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all 

What does it mean and what can we do? 

These targets set out not only to promote growth, paying special attention to the least developed countries, but also how this is to be achieved (through diversification, sustainability, etc.). However, the ordinary person is not forgotten in all of this and a substantial part of the goal aim to protect and promote the rights of workers, put an end to slavery and ensure access to financial institutions.